Line cleaner



March 13, 19 51 c, HEAD 2,545,278

' LINE CLEANER Filed Jan. 28, 1948 CORNEUUS Q. HEA

Eq. 4 KM AT TORNEYS Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE LINE CLEANER Cornelius R. Head, Houston, Tex.

Application January 28, 1948, Serial No. 4,816

The invention relates to a clean out device and in particular to a clean out device for mud pumps and the like.

In the drilling of wells by the rotary method it is customary to pump a weighted fluid down into the well bore. Such mud is circulated back up through the bore and into a mud tank or mud pit from which it is recirculated back into the well bore.

In order to pump the fluid it is customary to use a large size pump usually termed in the art a mud hog. These pumps are equipped to handle large volumes of the fluid and to withstand the abrasive characteristics thereof.

However due to certain components of the mud if allowed to settle for a length of time it will jell or become subject to sedimentation whereupon the heavier particles thereof settle out and the mud loses its mobile characteristics.

It has been necessary therefore that when a well is shut down for a length of time due to operational difliculties or other circumstances, to disconnect the mud flow line from the mud pump so that the mud fluid would not settle out or tend to become frozen or hardened in the intake side of the pump.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for removing or preventing the mud sedimentation in a mud pump line.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can be readily positioned in a mud flow line so as to loosen the mud therein which has become frozen or hardened during setting.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a mud pump a device for interconnection between the discharge and inlet side of the pump for ejecting a fluid into the inlet line of the mud pump to prevent or loosen the sedimentation therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which can be readily manufactured and which can be easily positioned and removed from place in a mud flow line of a mud pump.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which can be positioned so as to project into a flow line leading to a mud pump, there being an opening in such device facing lon- 3 Claims. (01. 103204) gitudinally in the flow line which is arranged to 2. Fig. 1 is a schematic? diagram illustrating the arrangement of the device in combination with a mud pump;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation showing the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 2; and, I

Fig. 4 is a vertical section view taken on the line of 44 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 the device is shown generally at 2 as being positioned in a suction line 3 of the mud pump 4. Leading from the discharge line 5 of the pump 4 is a by-pass connection 6 which is connected at 1 into the device 2. Valves 8 and 9 may be arranged in the intake line 3 and bypass line 6 respectively.

Suitable means are provided on the device 2 such as the threaded area lfl whereby it may be positioned in the intake line 3 of the pump 4. As shown in Fig; 2a collar H is arranged on the outer periphery l2 of the flow line 3. An annular opening 13 in the flow line 3 is arranged to coincide with the annular port M in the collar 5 I, such port having a threaded area I5 thereon arranged to engage the threaded area l0 so that the device 2 may be positioned in place in the flow line. The sedimentation preventer or removal device 2 is of a diameter at its inner end iii which projects'inwardly into the flow line so as to pass through the coinciding openings l3 and I4. I

Arranged on the inner end it of the device 2 is a nozzled opening 18 which faces longitudinally, and preferably downstream in the inlet flow line 3. The rear portion of the inner end I6 is curved as at l9 so that the flow of fluid past the device will be disturbed as little as possible. This eliminates undue disturbance in the line and eiTects an even flow of the fluid to the'pump 4.

As more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 the inner periphery at 2!! of the device 2 is curved so that fluid passing therethrough will tend to be ejected into the inlet flow line 3 therethrough the nozzled opening [8.

The outer end 20 of the device is provided with suitable means such as a threaded area 2| so that it may be engaged as shown at I in Fig. 1 in the discharge flow line 6.

In the operation of the device any desired number of the devices may be positioned in the inlet flow line 3 leading to a mud pump or the like, in which it is desired to remove or prevent sedimentation from the flow line and to effect a flow of fluid therethrough. The outer end 20' of the device may be connected with the discharge side of the mud pump, or a separate source of fluid may be connected thereto SIS that such fluid can be passed through the hollow housing 22 and discharged through the opening [8 into the inlet flow line. The device is positioned in the inlet flow line so that the opening 18 is closely adjacent the inner periphery 23 of such flow line. In this manner sedimentation closely adiacent the periphery of the flow line will be dislodged therefrom andjmoved with. the. line of flow to the pump 4. The movement of this sediment causes the remaining sedimentation in the flow line to be-.

come loosened whereby it becomes co-mingled with the stream through the pipe. While any number of the devices may be positioned in the; flow line it has been found practical that three to five devices will effect an unfreezing of the fluid in the flow line. However it seems obvious that the number used will depend upon the length ojflow line. from which sediment, is. to be. removed. 2

A the pump, is started, up and. fluid. passed through the hollow housing 22 and out thenozzled opening. LB, into. the. flow port the, hardened or frozenmud. will become loosened. Thereafter the device may be left-positioned in the flow line so that when the pump is shut down it may be restarted again. with little or no difiiculty. However, if so desired, the devices comprising the. invention. may be removedfrom. the flow line and a plug. inserted inthe. opening M.

It is to. be. further noted. that. the device. can remain. in operation while, the, pump is, in use. This inhibits. the sedimentationv oi heavier particles fromv the fluid being pumped and helps. such fluid to retain its consistency and, mobile. characteristics..

Broadly, the. invention contemplates a. mud pump sedimentation remover. and preventer and in particular, to, a device. which is, adaptable, to loosen hardenedmud from the flow line-.01? a. mud pump. or the like and toinhibit the sedimentation of fluidv therein.

What is claimed is;

1'. A mud pumpi line removal and sedimentation inhibitor device. comprising, a. body, a

threaded: portionon. each end thereof; one, end of said threaded body projecting into the line; to. be cleaned and the other end of said body being connected into a discharge line of a pump, the end of said body projecting into the line to be cleaned having a nozzled opening therein facing longitudinally with respect to said line and adjacent the inner surface of such line whereby as fluid is directed through the discharge line of said pump out through the opening in said body, sedimentation in the line will be removed or prevented from forming by the discharge of the fluid from the. opening.

2. A mud pump line sedimentation removal device comprising, a hollow body, a fluid conductor secured thereto, means on each end of said body to secure said body into the line to be cleaned and to connect said fluid conductor thereto,, there being a nozzled opening in said body adjacent the inner periphery of the line bein cleaned whereby as fluid is discharged from said body through said opening into the line being cleaned sedimentationtherein will be. flushed loose from theliner 3. A mud pump line sedimentation removal device comprising, ahollow body, said body being secured into the intake line. side of a, pump and connectedto receive fluid from the discharge side of said pump, there being a nozzled opening. in said body inthe. intake line which is. substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the inner periphery thereof, said opening facing, downstream in said, line whereby as fluid is; discharged thereh cueh and int the lin se im ntation in. he line, will be loosened and kept. from, re-forming,

CORNELIUS. HEAD...

REFERENCES. CITED The followin r ferences are cf.v record. in he file o his pa ent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. 

